Electrical abdominal heater.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HIRAM D. WOOD, JR., OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

ELECTRICAL ABDOMINAL HEATER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 21, 1908.

Application filed July 3, 1907. Serial No. 381.993.

description of the invention, such as will en-' able others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My present invention has for its object to provide an electrical abdominal steamer and is directed to the. particular form of the device disclosed and broadly claimed in a complanion application for Letters Patent of the nited States filed by me of' even date herewith, and entitled Electrical face steamers.

To the above ends the invention consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

In the accompanyin drawings which illustrate the invention, li e characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawin s, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, showing the improved cave face of the steamer.

steamer. Fig. 2 is a view in elevation, with some parts broken away and with some parts sectioned, looking at the inner or con- Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail in section, taken on the line m x of Fig. 2; and Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary views, respectively, in plan and edge elevation, showing the electric wire and mica stri for spacing thesame apart.

'l he body of the steamer is in-the form of a bowl indicated as an entirety by; the numeral 1, the up er portion thereof being of proper form to t closely over the abdomen, while the lower portion thereof is formed on lines that curve reversely inward to form concavities at 1 adapted to closely fit the thighs. As shown, this bowl is provided at one side with a hand piece 2 which, however, may be omitted. The exterior convex and concave surfaces of the bowl are formed by thin metal shells 1 1 respectively, the edges of which are preferably overlapped at the rim of the bowl, as best shown in Fig. 3. The metal shells 1 and 1 are preferably of aluminium and they are spaced apart sufliciently to make room for outer and inner asbestos lining sheets 3 and 4, respectively,

and a wire 5 and spacing strips 6. The wire and electric wiring in t 5' extends throughthe handle 2 and is provided with insulated or wound end sections 5 and 5 the former of which is extended inward to or approximately to the center of the bowl. The wire from the end section 5 is wound with convolutions that increase successively until it reaches the end wire 5 at the rim of the bowl. These convolutions,

furthermore, follow approximately the outline of the irregular margin of the bowl, and they are located between the outer and inner asbestos sheets 3 and 4 and they are spaced apart by radially disposed insulating strips 6, preferably of mica. These spacing strips 6 are formed with laterally pressed wire retaining lips 7, as best shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The outer asbestos sheet 3 is heavy enough to prevent the outward radiation of any considerable amount of heat, while the inner asbestos sheet 4 is' so thin that it will not, to any considerable extent, prevent the inward radiation of heat from the hot wire 5 but is, nevertheless, heavy enough to afford an electrical insulation between the wire and the inner metal shell 1. e As shown in Fig. 2, the wire terminals 5 and 5 are united in the form of a-cable 8 outward of the handle 2. This cable is attached to a circuit head 9 adapting it for application to an ordinary incandescent lamp socket.

As is evident, when current is turned onto the wire 5, very considerable amount of heat will be produced, and this will be radiated into the bowl and. will serve to rapidly heat wet cloths or towels placed within the concave surface thereof. The aluminium lining or inner shell does not absorb moisture from the wet cloths or towels and, hence, preserves the wiring. Furthermore, alumimum does not corrode and also makes the device thoroughly antiseptic. As the bowl is rigid, the internal wires are held in ermanent arrangement and, hence, are not liable to be broken, as is the case where the wiring is applied in a flexible device. A thin coating of silicate of soda or water glass is preferably applied to the internal wires and also to the inner surface of the aluminium shells.

What I claim is 1. In an abdominal heater, the combination with a bowl made up of inner and outer shellsof non-absorbent material, said bowl having a body portion adapted to cover the abdomen and having reverse inwardly curved lower edges adapted to fit the thighs,

e space between the a Q seams said' inner and outer shell insulated there- I the margin thereof, and insulated from said 10 from, substantially as described. inner and outer shells, substantially as de- 2,' An abdominal heater comprising a bowl scribed. made up of inner and outer metallic shells In testimony whereof I aflix my signature 5 'oined at their marginal portions, said bowl 7 v in presence of two witnesses.

aving ab'ody Cportion adapted to cover IIIRAM D. WOOD, JR. the abdomen, an a reverse inwardly curved; Witnesses: 7 lower portion, electric wiring within the said H. D.- KILGORE,

bowl approximately following the outline of F. Di MERCHANT. 

